In Mysterious Ways I Say ... this headline should finish. My mind works in mysterious ways anyway and all of this connected for me sometime within the last twenty-four hours as I listened to Sarah Wolfson sing in her soprano voice accompanied by pianist Sophia Kim Cook and cello-player Garo Yellin yesterday at a celebration of Sidney Moore Margolis' life at the Textile Museum on Sunday, June 12th, 2011 in the afternoon - perhaps around 4:30PM? I think so. The songs sung them blew me away quite literally and left me winded and exhausted and quite a wreck of emotions that like Humpty Dumpty was hard to put back together after the fact.
Sarah Wolfson sang the song : " Losing My Mind " and this is the one that made me wonder whether or not this was the song that Mandy Patinkin had sung on the t.v. show " Chicago Hope " to his mentally-ill wife that so many years ago had the same kind of emotional train-wreck that listening to Sarah sing and Sophia play piano and Garo play his cello? It's been so long ago and this song really got me to thinking and wishing that I could see that episode once again with Mandy Patinkin singing so beautifully. Even with the faint memory that still burns inside me this one song and episode with Mandy stands for me as one of the greatest moments for me watching t.v. There has been no better. But that's the power of art and the power of song. I love it. I loved yesterday.
I had taken my Flip camera with me to the Textile Museum. I never know anymore when it will come in handy. I also took a piece of white artist's paper to sketch on and do any quick portrait sketches if it had been appropriate. I do these things " just in case ". I like having things to remember special moments by. This was indeed one of those for me and my wife was nice enough to come with me because it was much more important to me.
It was hot and sticky and muggy and hard to be outside in the back garden of the Textile Museum for everyone gathered to celebrate Sidney's life with children and planes flying over and everything else : gnats, too. There was food and excellent wine and lots of ice water : all important. There were also people that I knew and that pleased me enormously. I kept seeing a man that intrigued me as he wove his way around the large space under the tent . Who was he? Who did he know here? Well, my wife pointed out later that he was the cello player Garo Yellin. Reminded me somewhat of my wine friend from so many years now Doug Rosen.
My wife and I sat towards the back of the crowd just inside the tent where my friend Jeff was standing and in deep conversation with someone from the Levine School of Music. We all chatted later but not at first. We sat down by the gentle breeze and I was persuaded by my wife to take off my jacket. We ended up talking to quite a few people until an announcement was made that the music was a bout to begin and that it was some of Sidney's favorite music by Sondheim as well as others. I had no idea quite what the treat this was all about to become.
After the announcements were made and the music and singing started I spied my Flip camera there on the table in front of me and it all suddenly clicked : here was what I was going to use the camera for - to record these three musicians/singers and their voice and sounds. Wow, it was quite impressive and drew me in immediately.
The place was quiet and even as far back as we were the sounds were incredible and pure and clear and vibrant and intimate. How could they not be ?!? Just listening to the lyrics made you feel as if every last word and sentence and song was sung just for you. I think we all loved this. That's why it was so quiet except for the occasional baby sound or the younger children, a cough, the airplane flying over head ... that sort of thing.
I focused on the music and on capturing as much of it on my Flip camera as possible. I got a fair amount and I am thrilled with that as it has already brought me a whole lot of pleasure in these last twenty-four hours as I listen to it all over again.
After the performance I rushed up to talk to the three musicians. I caught both Sophia and Sarah but missed Garo as he was already off mingling with the crowd once again. That's too bad but at the end I did say " hello " and give him one of my cards just as I had done with Sophia and Sarah. I like to explain what I have done and ask their permission to show the video? I don't need to be upsetting anyone, especially on a beautiful and solemn ans special moment like this one. I hope I did not - that was never my intention.
Everyone seemed to be okay with my having recorded the song and music. It was so special - so lyrical, to precious, so fragile, so intimate and so ready to break and crumble and fall apart at the drop of a pin. That's how moving and beautiful it was to me as I am sure it was to everyone else. Sarah sang beautifully and her voice is rich and full and her sense of timing and wording to capture the fullness and bounty of the words and their meanings was not lost on any of us.
I also loved the piano and the cello. I could see Sophia from where I sat and she was captured on the Flip camera. I am sorry to say that Garo was not. Both the piano and the cello had such range and such power and yet such tenderness and gentleness, too : just depended on the song.
I loved capturing some of both the piano and the cello solos. They spoke volumes, too just like Sarah's voice did. It was an experience I will not soon forget and having these clips of video and sound will ensure that for years to come. I am sure that I will listen to them often and I intend on sharing them with anyone wanting to listen and see.
I will get my good photographer friend Karen Akerson to help edit what " raw " footage I have taken and make it special in her own way. It will become another collaborative effort I believe between Karen and me. Can't wait to see what you do Karen!
So, stay-tuned for more really soon. Thanks everyone involved in this. I appreciate being included. It meant a lot to me. Cheers, TONY
